Air lift-pump



(No Model.)

W. L. SAUNDERS. AIR LIFT PUMP.

No. 597,023l Patented Jan. 11,1898.

UNITED 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM LAWRENCE SAUNDERS, 0F NORTH PLAINFIELD, NEINT JERSEY.

AIR LIFT-PUMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 597,023, dated January 11, 1898.

Application filed May 2, 1896. Serial No. 590,053. (No model.)

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM LAWRENCE p SAUNDERS, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at North Plaineld, in the county of Somerset and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Air Lift-Pumps, of which the following is a description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements in the art of raising liquids by means 0f compressed air; and it consists in an improved process and apparatus whereby alternate charges of water and compressed air are delivered to the eduction-pipe at a high initial velocity.

The object of the invention is to accomplish the elevation of water or other liquids by means of compressed air or other gases with greater economy than has heretofore been possible.

In accordance with my invention the compressed air is not directed into the water in the form of iine streams or jets which would readily commingle therewith, nor isl it delivered continuously at the foot of the eductionpipe, thereby, as asserted by some, dividing the water into piston-like layers the existence of which is doubted, nor is either the air or the water started on its upward journey through the eduction or delivery pipe in a continuous stream; but by Ineans of the arrangement of apparatus and the proper regulation of the pressures of the liquid and the gas employed it is so arranged that masses of the liquid and masses of the gas are started up the delivery-pipe in alternation and each with a high velocity, as will appear. Whether the gases and the liquid become more or less intimately commingled before leaving the delivery-pipe is immaterial so long as they start up the delivery-pipe with a sufficiently-high initial velocity, for it necessarily follows that if so started and the supply of air and water in alternation be maintained with sufficient frequency the'velocity of the inflow will communicate itself to the rising column, and as the same rises the superincumbent pressure will be reduced and the masses of compressed gas by expansion will assist in the expulsion of the liquid above them.

according to my invention.

It is to be understood that according to my invention compressed gases of almost any character may be employed and liquids of any kind may be elevated by means thereof. For convenience I will hereinafter refer to them as compressed air and water.

In the` accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in elevatiomshowin g an air-compressor, an air-reservoir,and in section a well equipped Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation showing a slightly-modified arrangement.

A is an air-compressor engine of any suitable type.

B is a tank for receiving and holding the compressed air from A. Pipe a connects the cylinder of the air-compressor with the tank B. The tank B is provided with a safetyvalve b.

C is the well tov be pumped, which may be of any type sufficiently large in diameter t0 accommodate my apparatus.

D is a delivery-pipe, which where drilled wells are used will vary in size according to the diameter of the well and in the case of a large well may be of any desired capacity.

E is a device which I have termed a pressure-chamber, which is in the'present instance shown as being supported at its lower end upon legs c, resting on the bottom of 'the well, although it may be supported from above if preferred.

The pressure-chamber E is larger in diameter thanthe delivery-pipe D and extends a short distance below the lower end of said delivery-pipe. The pressure-chamber is open at its lower end to permit the free ingress of water and is closed at its upper end around the delivery-pipe D, so that there is no escape of air at this point. Compressed air is supplied to the upper end of the pressure-chamber through pipe F, extending from the tank B and provided with a stop-cock f.

The lower end of the pressure-chamber E and also of the delivery-pipe I) should be considerably below the level of the water in the well, which is indicated by the line X X.

Where the invention is applied to a drilled well which is provided with a metallic or other air-tight casing, as indicated in Fig. 2, the pressure-chamber E, as a separate construction, can be omitted and the casing of the well IOO used in place thereof, the space between the casing C and. the delivery-pipe D constituting a pressure-chamber E. This arrangement simplifies the apparatus and enables me to use a larger pump in a well of given size. In said Fig. 2, C is the permanent casing of the well. D is the delivery-pipe. f indicates air, and the constant variation of pressure' caused-by the escape of a portion of each alternately through the delivery-pipe.

Normally the Water will stand in the pressure-chamber and in the delivery-pipe at, for example, the level indicated by the line X X, Figs. l and 2. When, however, compressed air is admitted to the `upper end of the pres-` sure-chamber E or E by opening .the cock f, which is left open so long as the apparatus is in operation, the water will be forced down in the same, and if the pressure of air is sufiicient it will be forced down and back into the well or into the Veins from whence it came until it reaches or almost reaches 'the line G G', when the air will escape up the deliverypipeD. The escape of air will lower the pressure in the pressure-chamber, whereupon the water will rise; but since the inflow of air is -notchecked mechanically the pressure in the chamber E or E will increase until the'rise of the water is checked at a point abovethe exit or lower end of the pipe D-say at about the line-HH-when thesupply of compressed air from the tank B in the chamber E will check highest initial velocity I havecontractedthe pipe near its lower end for a short distance to form a venturi, so that the momentum of the water rising therethrough will give increased velocity to the portion entering the pipe, thereby adding to yits upward-moving force and tothe force with which the water will be drawntoward and into the deliverypipe. The air-pressure now increasing suiciently to drive the water down belowthe foot of the delivery-pipe D or D', or to the line G G, permits afporti'ongof the compressed air to also enter the delivery-pipe D, which it does in the rear of the mass of water which had previously entered, forcing the same up the delivery-pipe, and in view of the fact that the water entered as a solid body the compressed air following the same will have a solid body to act upon, and therefore it cannot escape except by driving the body of water immediately above it and those above ythat up the delivery-pipe.

The supply of air from the tank B will be continuous and of course must be maintained in said tank at a pressure in excess of the pressure necessary to overcome the momentum of the water rising in the pressure-chamber under the head of the well, and so long as the supplyof compressed air is maintained and there is sufficient waterin the well the water and air will pulsateup and down in the pressure-chamber above and below the delivery-pipe, and alternate masses of each will escape into the delivery-pipe and be forced to the surface.

Modifications maybe made in the construction and arrangement of the apparatus consistent with the foregoing description without departing from the invention.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is l. The herein-described method of 4pumping which consists in supplying directly to the open lower end of a valveless deliverypipe surrounded by an open-bottom chamber -continuously supplied with a-gas under pres- Vsure,'of charges of the liquid and of the gas `under pressure and in alternation.

2. The method of pumping which consists in supplying to the open lower end of a valveless deliVery-pipe surrounded by a submerged `pressure-chamber having its lower end permanently open to receive the liquid and-continuously supplied with a gas under pressure, vof charges of liq uid and of gas at a high velocity and in alternation.

3'. In a pumping operation the process of raising liquid which consists in supplying to a pressure-chamber permanently open at its `lower end to receive the liquid, and `provided `with a downwardly-extending delivery-pipe also'open at its lower end said lower end located near the opening of the chamber, of compressed air at a point near the upper'end of the pressure chamber from a constant ysource of supply, admitting liquid to the open fend of the chamber and of the delivery-pipe under sufficient momentum to force itself into the delivery-pipe and also to cause an increase of the pressure of the compressed air in the upper part of the chamber, until the momentum of thewater entering the cham- IOO IXO

loer is overcome thereby, when the water is 4. The combination with a well to be pumped, of a delivery-pipe, the lower end of which is open to receive the water and which extends below the normal water-level, a pressure-chamber surrounding said delivery-pipe, and permanently open at its lower end to receive the Water, connections between the upper part of the pressure-chamber and an independent source of compressed air or other gas, whereby, under the variations of pressure in the chamberbvdue to the momentum of the head of water and the escape of part of its contents, the air and water will pulsate above and below the mouth or exit of the eduction-pipe, and portions escape thereinto alternately.

5. The combination with a well, of a pressure-chamber closed at its upper end and permanently open at its lower end to permit free inilow of water, of a delivery-pipe arranged within the pressure-chamber and extending below the normal water-level, and open at its lower end to receive the water from the well, and an independent source of compressed gas connected with the upper end of the pressure-chamber, whereby under a constant flow of gas under pressure from the independent source into the pressure-chamber the gas and liquid will pulsate about the lower end or mouth of the delivery-pipe, alternately entering the same.

6. In an air lift-pump the combination of a delivery-pipe extending below the normal water-level, a pressure-chamber inclosing part of said delivery-pipe and extending down below the lower or inlet end thereof, and permanently open at its lower end to receive the water, connections between the upperpart of chamber permanently open at its lower end to receive the water, and valveless connections between the pressure-chamber and an independent source of compressed air at one end, and with the water at the other end, whereby the head or normal level of the water in the well and the pressure of air from the tank will always oppose each other in the pressure-chamber, causing them to pulsate above and below the lower end of the delivery-pipe, air and water escaping thereinto in alternation.

S. In an air lift-pump, the combination of a delivery-pipe formed with a contracted portion near its lower end or mouth, a pressurechamber surrounding said pipe and permanent-ly open at its lower end to receive the liquid and supplying compressed air thereto from above in alternation with the supply of liquid, and connections between the pressure-chamber and an independent source of compressed air.

In testimony whereof I hereto aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\ WILLIAM LAWRENCE SAUNDERS.

lVitnesses H. M. PERRY, J No. E. HoLLowAY. 

